“This is stupid! How could the Army trick our dad? They disgust me! We should be watching T.V. with dad right now! The Army just had to ruin our family!” shouted my big sister Ali, as she paced back and forth.

I too began to cry, so I closed my eyes so Ali couldn’t see me. I opened them again because my mom’s hand was wrapped around me, soothing me for a second.

“It’s okay Genevieve, let it out,” whispered my mom in a voice only I could hear.

Life had been this way for eight months since my dad left our little apartment in Boston, Massachusetts. Originally, my dad had orders to Kuwait, which my family accepted. He wanted to fight for his country, so he reenlisted. As the days led up to my dad’s departure, I noticed him acting unusual. His hair was turning gray and his eyes were fading. One day I went up to him and asked, “Daddy, what’s wrong?”

“Well Pumpkin, I received a letter last week stating that I...” was all he said.

“What Daddy, what?” I shouted as my eyes swelled with tears.

My dad sighed. He looked me in the eyes and said, “I’m going to Afghanistan.”

“No, you can’t !” I wailed.

“Genevieve, your father reenlisted last week. He has no say on going to Afghanistan,” said Mom in an agonizing voice.My sister bolted into the room, she’d obviously been listening. “How can this be?,” she said as if this had been the first time in her life that she had been awake.

We all cried with dad for our first, and sadly, last time. Why, of all people did this happen to us? Why? What have we done wrong?

On the day of my dad’s trip, we all prayed that he would stay safe, healthy and would return soon. As I watched my dad climb into the plane, I began to shake, and my heart was about to explode. I watched the plane soar into the sky with my dad. I knew it in my bones that I would never see him again.Mom, Ali and I had been living without Dad for two months, praying each day. Every time we prayed, doubt took the best of me. My stomach sank and a “knot” swelled in my throat.

On a Sunday afternoon, an officer from my dad’s work came to our door. Mom answered it with Ali and I crowding around her.

“Unfortunately, the enemy ambushed our camp and 80 soldiers were killed. One of the people was … your husband. I’m so sorry.” he sighed and said, “God bless. Bye.”

As my mom closed the door, he said two words, “Have hope.”

“I don’t need hope, I need my dad!” I shouted hysterically. My dad’s death hurt me as if I had been struck by lightning to the power of infinity. I cried my heart out for the first time in my life. Mom and Ali cried too. We all held on too each other and never stopped. It would just be the three of us from now on. Now, we’re all a wreck. We have mood swings constantly. Sometimes were angry, and sometimes we’re sad.

As I was banging my feet against the wall, something appeared next to me. It was a crumpled note that said, “Never let fear break you, always let faith take you.”

I realized what the note meant, and I rushed over to tell Mom and Ali about my discovery. “Why are we crying? Why are we sad? Dad was a good person. He lived a happy life. Have hope,” I said to them. I leaned over and hugged them both. Slowly, I felt their cold bodies gain warmth.

“Your right. We all need hope. I love you and Ali so much,” said Mom hugging us.

“Genevieve, we are so blessed to have you. I love you so much!” said my sister.

“I guess we really never know how good we have it until it’s gone,” I said with gratitude.

“This train needs wheels,” Miguel’s mom complained. They had been riding a train for more than two hours. The desert had literally drained their energy with heat. They had little water in their supplies to drink.

“It was wrong going with Passers,” Miguel said to himself.

Miguel’s mom responded, “It was worth it.”

That night, Miguel was not able to even close his eyes. He remember his dad’s words, “Don’t give up Miguel. Keep trying and you’ll make it there.” He thought to himself if, “I give up I die, if I don’t I’ll make it there.”

Two years ago, his family was ready to start the journey to the U.S. His family had a hard time living in Mexico and wanted a better life. His father left first to see if he could find a place to live. Miguel was waiting for his mom to get ready for the trip.

Suddenly, she started crying. “He was a good husband and father,” she sobbed.

Miguel jumped from his sleep knowing his memory would haunt him. The train made it hard to gather his supplies. His mom was thinking while she gathered her supplies. “We’re parting ways Miguel,” his mom said.

“What?” exclaimed Miguel.

“We have to, or the way under the border will be tough.”

“Ok.”

Miguel had to get to the other train that was on the left side of the cargo hold.

“I won’t make it,” Miguel said to himself. When he opened the cargo door, he could hear the train roar like a jet plane.

“Run first,” said his mother, “It will help you.” He ran as fast as he could. Making the gap with a thump. He looked back at his mom.

“See you on the other side,” his mom screamed. She waved goodbye finally closing the cargo door.

Have you ever been sent into the future? I have. It all started on a nice and warm morning when my mom told me to wake up.

“Jeffery wake up and clean the garage. I saw rats in there,” my mom yelled.

“Okay ma!” I yelled back.

As I walked to the garage, I saw a bright bike going as fast as a cheetah and a handsome man was riding it. I noticed it was my friend Arturo. I opened the garage door and it was a mess. I started moving boxes and then a little device fell from on top of a box. I picked it up and started playing with it. I set it to 2/27/3021 and pushed a big green button. Then in a flash I wasn’t in California anymore. I magically appeared in a chrome city.

I looked around and saw people floating and flying cars. I looked down and saw that I dropped the little device. I picked it up and saw that it broke. I felt lost like a hobo not knowing where I’m going to sleep. I went for a walk thinking, “What am I going to do?”

I was looking at the floor when a man asked me, “Are you lost kid?”

I looked up and said, “Yes, I timed-traveled here. I live in California.”

He replied, “This is California, but it is year 3021.”

My eyes widened, “What? I lived during 2011,” I started panicking. “Do you know anyone who fixes time machines?” I asked.

“Why yes, he lives on that hill over there,” as he pointed to a house on a huge hill.

“Can you please take me there? I’ll pay you.” I asked desperately.

”Sure, but you don’t have to pay me. We’ll take my car.” A car pulled up it was a floating car but it had the same sign of my day cars a BMW sign in the front. The car was fast we reached the top in no time.

We pulled up in front of the house. I went up to the huge house and knocked on the door. An old man answered the door, “Hi sir, can you fix this time machine please?”

He stared at it with his glasses, “Why I build that time machine.” He said in an old man voice, ”Yes I can fix it.” He took it inside. He put it on a table and started picking at it with a screwdriver and some tweezers. It took a while, like two hours then he yelled, “Aha! Fixed it.” He walked to me and put the time machine in my hands.

“Thank you, thank you soooo much!” I said to the old man.

“No problem. You’re welcome,” he responded.

I set the date in the time machine back to my time 2/27/2011, and in a flash I was back in my house. I found myself back in my room, not the garage--weird. I stored the time machine in a safe place in my room where no one can find it, and I laid in my bed thinking about the adventure that I just had. The time machine is still in my room to this very day just waiting for my next adventure in time.

Thump, thump, thump…Kid Detective Karson could hear his heart beating faster and faster with each step closer to the old mansion. Suddenly Karson’s partner, Matt saw a flashing red light in the window. He could barely make out the shadow of an old woman standing in the window. Each time the light flashed he thought it looked like Bernice Witherspoon.

The lonely widow had died there several years ago while gazing out that very same window. She had been watching the children play in the park across the street from her house, when suddenly a shot was heard and down she fell.

Rumors among the neighbors quickly spread that Bernie Witherspoon, Bernice’s crazy brother had murdered her; however, No one ever proved that he was the one who pulled the trigger.

Kid Detectives Karson and Matt have been partners and friends for as long as they can remember. Karson loves looking into mysteries and going on exciting adventures. Matt also likes adventures and he is the joker of the two.

Before they got to the mansion, Karson and Matt were playing video games in their HQ. When suddenly, the phone rang and it was Karson’s teacher, Mr. Manso. He said, “Karson can you check out the old mansion on Pecos Ave, I’ve heard rumors that there is a ghost woman, Bernice Witherspoon, who people say haunts the mansion.” “Sure Mr. Manso, Karson answered, my partner Matt and I will check it out and let you know.”

Karson and Matt arrived at the spooky old mansion about 20 minutes later. They walked up to the front door and Matt said, “Dude! Calm down, I can hear your heart beating all the way over here.” Karson replied, “I know, but I ‘m scared and I’m freaking out.” Matt said, “Don’t worry, ghosts only appear in movies and video games.” They rang the door bell and it sounded like a ghostly scream. Suddenly the door opened by itself and they could feel a rush of freezing wind. As they entered the front room, they could see bats hanging from the ceiling. Matt and Karson both knew to be quiet and not to disturb the bats to avoid being attacked by them.

They quietly searched the house and were suddenly surprised to see what looked like the ghost of Bernice Witherspoon. She appeared to be floating in the air and she looked transparent. Matt and Karson froze and the ghostly figure chased out of the house screamed,” Stay out of my house!”

Karson turned to Matt and asked, “Did you see the strings attached to the top of the ghost or was it just me?” Matt replied, “Yes I did but I was still afraid.” They decided to come back the next day when it was light.

The next day, Matt and Karson went to the old mansion and saw that there were guide rails in the ceiling that had been concealed in the darkness the night before. They also realized the bats were made of plastic but they looked real in the dark. They noticed a speaker hidden behind a chair, and followed the wires all the way to the basement, were they found a person digging a hole in the middle of the room. Matt asked the man, “What are you doing down here?” The guy was so startled that he started to run after Matt and Karson and he tripped and fell into the hole and was unable to get out. Karson called the police from his cell phone.

When the police arrived, they arrested Bernie Witherspoon. They asked Karson, “How did you boys catch him?” Karson told the police about what they witnessed and investigated. They also found the drill that was making the scary noises. After talking with Bernie, Karson discovered that he had murdered his sister and was digging for the family fortune.

While the police were taking Bernie Witherspoon to jail, Bernie shouted, “I would have gotten away with it, if it weren’t for you medalling kids!”

Karson and Matt got back to their HQ and Matt said, “I told you, not everything you see is real.” Karson answered with, “Yeah, yeah, I know, I will remember that next time.”

How would you feel if your parents were secret agents? When Max found out his parents were secret agents was when he was looking in his parents’ room. He was looking for clues for where his parents work because he wanted to and it was career day tomorrow. When he was going to exit, he tripped and hit a wall. The wall turned around and Max was in a different room. “Where am I?” Max said to himself.

The air was dusty and the room was lit by computer screens. “Max, where are you?”

He knew it was his friend Kevin looking for him. “I’m in my parent’s room!” Max could hear his friend looking around the room. “Are you playing with me?”

“No, I’m stuck inside a wall.”

Max thinks and decides to get out the same way he got in. He hits the wall and spins back into his parents’ room. ”How did you get inside there?”

“I was just looking around my parents room to see where my mom and dad work for career day tomorrow, when I hit the wall and got stuck inside the wall.”

Max and Kevin were looking at each other strange. ”Don’t you think your parents are...?”

“No. Why would my mom and dad be secret agents? Even if they were I’m sure there’s a reason.”

The next day at school, Max couldn’t stay focused on what happened yesterday. He wanted to skip school and look for more secret traps hidden in the house, but he had to stay at school for eight hours a day. When he got out of school, he and his friend met up in Max’s house. They both split the house in were they will search. Max will search upstairs and downstairs but Kevin will search the basement and the garage. They find nothing until they checked the shed in his back yard. Max opens the door and feels if there is a ghost next to him. They both go inside and turn on the light. “What’s this?” said Kevin.

“It’s a door.” Max said to Kevin.

They push everything aside and open the small door. Max and Kevin jump in and try to find the light switch. “Wow!” “It is co cool in here!” I can come her every day and play video games in here all day!”

The room was full of TV’s and computers. “Okay.” “You two have seen quite enough.” Max’s dad said

“Keven, your parents are waiting for you outside.”

Kevin leaves and Max is left with his mom and dad. “Go to your room Max,” his dad said

He goes upstairs to his room and his mom and dad follow him upstairs. “Max, there’s something we wave keeping from you for your own safety.” “What is it?” he asked.

We arrived at Hollywood Horror Nights around 6:45 P.M. It was a cold night and the sky was covered in clouds with no sun in sight. When we walked in, I spotted a girl covered in blood.

“It looks so realistic!” I blurted out.

“I know, you’re right!” Daniel said.

We walked for a while until I saw something that really scared me…It was a clown with a chain saw (with no chain) I cringed as he came towards me. I was so scared I couldn’t even think straight. In my mind, I thought “He is going to get me!” but then I realized he really could not do anything to me.

“If I’m already this scared I wonder how that mazes will be,” I thought to myself.

We went in two mazes and then we decided to go on to the terror tram. I wondered in my mind about what The Terror Tram is like As if the first two weren’t scary enough I though nervously in my head.

I also thought about how much I did not want to come and how pressured I felt when they asked me to come. I also thought about how brave I was to make this commitment to say until it closed.

We waited in line for about 25 minutes we were all very hungry and I was kind of grumpy. Every time I saw someone get scared, it reminded me of this nightmare I kept having every Friday night it was blurry and all I could remember is having this cold deep feeling I felt inside every time I woke up or, thought about it. I figured I would have this nightmare since it was Friday.

The tram ride took about 7 minutes then the scary part comes.

“I heard they drop you of in the forest with no where to go!” Daniel said excitedly. “That’s all a lie there is a clear path way,” said Jasmine.

“Well what ever it is I hope it ends soon!” I said with no emotion. Well this is my stop I said to myself as I heard the man on the loudspeaker call out. I felt like I just ate rotten eggs and I that I was too scared to even walk. But no turning back so here I go!

“Breath just breath everything’s going to be ok” I thought to myself nervously. We walked into the forest where I started to think, “Why should I let people pressure me into doing stuff?” Then I decided to scare them I ran ahead them and hid behind an abandon car. “I’ll show them!” I thought to myself. “Well here goes!”

Then suddenly I felt something wrap around my neck as cold as a block of dry ice. “Was this real?” I thought, “Was my worst nightmare becoming a reality?”

It was all happening so fast I wasn’t sure if it was one of my friend or a, worker or a, mass murderer! I felt stilt ropes being tied around my tiny fragile wrists.

I was in a dark place and all I could see was trees and bushes. I screamed until I couldn’t scream any more my hart was wasted and tired I though should I give up.

Then it dawned on me I had my keys in my pocket and I felt saved.

Because my hands were so fragile and tiny, I could manage to move them toward my back pocket to cut the rope holding my feet to the tree.

I had managed to slip my hands out and get my keys but that still didn’t mean I was free I didn’t even know where to go to get back to the path but I had figured they were looking for me. When I finished cutting the rope, I felt the warmest joy in my soul. I followed my heart and I was re-united with my friends.

Emi gazed at her beautiful, new, house in Tokyo, Japan. The 12 year old was swayed that there was something amiss about this ghastly house. Suki, her 21 year old sister, agitated her.

"What happened, Emi?" Suki inquired.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, nothing. Let's go inside, " she responded. This is the first time we've ever moved out of Toyohashi after mom and dad perished and it's already feeling so weird , she thought as she obediently followed Suki into the lush kitchen. The two of them hastily ate some savory sushi and started unloading the accessories of their home out of their newly-washed car.

After a protracted day of working, Emi agreed wearily to go slumber in her soft, velvety bed.

"Suki? Suki, I'm going to go sleep, 'kay?"

"'Kay, you can go, I'm gonna come after unpacking these things! " So Emi yawned and walked gracefully off to their elegant bedroom. She slipped into the luxurious bed, tied her long black, silky hair, pushed it back and confined her sleepy eyes.

"W-who are you?" Emi shivered with fear and horror at the ghostly gal.

"I am Kimiko Saeki. Why are you in my house?" Kimiko spoke with a hoarse voice that made Emi tremble.

"B-b-but this is my house!" But before Emi could explain, the teenager vanished into to the crisp night air.That little boy seems lonely, I'll try to chat with him, she beamed out the rusty window, the house still needed some cleaning!

"I'll be back, Suki," Emi muttered. She sprinted out the old-fashioned door and into the beautiful garden. As she got nearer, she witnessed that the boy had the exact skin and eyes as Kimiko. She slowed her steps and approached the boy nervously and then . . . she recognized Kimiko posing behind the little boy, clutching him on the shoulders. Kimiko Saeki . . . Saeki? Oh. My. Goodness. SAEKI! It had struck Emi's mind. She was shocked and horrified at the thought of it.A curse is born when someone dies in a grip of powerful rage or extreme sorrow. It leaves itself where the person died . Those who encounter this supernatural force die and the curse is born repeatedly . . . she never imagined in her whole life that she would be encountering such an abnormal act. These two persons were the spirits of Kimiko and Eiji Saeki, they were murdered viciously by their irresponsible, drunkard father. He had butchered Kimiko by pricking her with a dagger all over her body until she fell helplessly onto the cold, hard ground that was mocking her. Eiji was asphyxiated by his predator-like father in a tub of burning water. Emi gaped at the spirits from head to toe confirming that this was not a joke. She escorted herself towards them and then she halted, stopping hard on the fertile ground. She was falling, it felt like she was falling from a 10 story building! She fell with a THUD!on the hard, icy ground.

"Suki, move. SUKI! NO! MOVE! SU- " she tried to pull her away from the clutches of Kimiko and Eiji. Her eyes moistened, salty tears fell down her cheeks like they never did before. Suki was her everything, and now, her everything was butchered to death.

"NOO! I HATE YOU! WHY-" a leaf came and placed itself perfectly on Emi's hand. The handwriting was cute and simple, easy to read.Meet me in the attic :(, it said.

"Eiji was just a pawn for me! NOW! Now I'll have my revenge I chased for many years!" Kimiko came walking slowly like a penguin, ready to attack! Emi remembered her holy book, she took it out and tore a page. Emi whispered hurriedly into the paper, folded it and threw it at Kimiko. After what seemed like a long time, she walked out of the burning house. She felt triumphant, she, Emi Aiko Yoo, had killed the bad spirit.

It’s 12:00 p.m. and I have this fluttering in my stomach like it was a bad idea for my parents to have moved out of our perfect house in Katalyen, Oklahoma. It was a two-story house with 4 rooms, 2 bathrooms, and a 10 feet pool. I try to picture how our new house in Norwalk, California will look like. I bet it’s full of cobwebs and it has loose floorboards with shutters that even when you touch them they creak eerily. We’re on the airplane, Katalyen Homer, that will take us to the Los Angeles Airport.

I’m in the taxicab feeling bad about leaving our old home. Then my parents see my expression, sad. Then we get to Blemlen Avenue. Thank goodness it is still a two-story house. It does not have cobwebs or anything that I thought it would have. Inside my family’s new house, everything gleams like sun on a diamond. Even the floor looks as shiny. It has been mopped. The house has stairs that go up to my room.

When my parents finally had the luggage unpacked, then they call me in to the kitchen and they start a conversation. My parents start by, “We understand that you’re going to Kai Lan Middle School tomorrow, so we want you to know that you have to make a good first impression.” I say, “But what do you mean by that? Do I have to not talk back or look my best?” Then they say, “Yes, you have to do all of those things.” But I still have one more question to ask, “But what if the bullies are mean and they beat me up tomorrow?” Then they said, “Don’t worry, Kai Lan is one of the safest middle schools.” So my parents make me go to bed at 9:00 p.m. We had hamburgers that tasted like I’d never tasted them before.

Then I see all the kids at Kai Lan in the cafeteria and they all see me, then start punching me and throwing me to the ground. Then I hear beeping, like a bomb about to explode and I wake up realizing it is my alarm clock/radio that’s telling me it’s 8:00 a.m. So I jump out of bed and put on my favorite outfit, a long-sleeved shirt with a little vest to cover it, and I put on my most expensive flats, shoes decorated with sparkly material. Then I begin to braid my brown/yellow hair for my first day of sixth grade. For breakfast I have a toasted waffle with orange juice and milk.

Then I’m on my way to my brand new school, Kai Lan Middle School. I’m riding my new bicycle, going as fast as my wheels could take me. I arrive and when I walk through the gate I see one of the supervisors. She notices me and says, ”Hi, you’re new around here, right?” Then I say,” Yes I just moved here yesterday.” She replies, ”Well then, welcome to Kai Lan Middle School!”

I enter the cafeteria and it’s really clean and I think almost the whole school is in that room. Then I hear someone talking to me and that person says,” Hi, it’s your friend listen, I need a favor.” I reply, ”Wait, which friend and what favor do you want?!” Then I realize I screamed it and almost everybody stares at me while I walk through the giant crowd. Then I see somebody running toward me and then she sticks her hand out and says, ”Hi, I’m Clarissa, welcome to Kai Lan Middle School!”

I reach out my hand and we shake hands, I realize that she has a firm grip. She must be excited to have a friend. I said,” Sure I just moved here yesterday.

Then the whole school hears the bell to go to first period. I take out my schedule to see who my first period teacher is. It is a lady named Mrs. Danan. Throughout the whole day I keep on hearing the mystery voice, but I could not tell what it was saying. At the end of the day Clarissa and I go walking home together. On the way we learn more about each other. She said, “What house and street do you live on? I live on 12936 Blemlen Avenue.” I said,” Well, I live on 12935 Blemlen Avenue. We live right across from each other! Will you help me? The whole day I kept on hearing this voice, but I can’t tell what’s it’s saying.” She replied,” Don’t worry, I’ll help you find out who this mystery voice is.”

So, for the rest of the week, Clarissa and I find out more about the mystery voice. It says,” Hi it’s your friend again, listen this is the favor I need. On Friday night at twelve o’ clock a.m., I need you to go to the local graveyard and meet me there. If you don’t go, I’ll kill you. Remember that you can’t bring anyone with you to defend you.” I decide that I’m going to cheat at his game and Clarissa can go with me. I ask, “Clarissa can you go with me to the local graveyard? The voice threatened to kill me if I don’t.” She replies, “Sure, I don’t want my new friend killed by some mystery person.” Since we’ve made the decision to go together nothing, can happen.

The plan is set. Clarissa and I will meet at the end of the street. Then we will both ride our bicycles together and when we get to the graveyard, she’ll stay beside the gate and I’ll go inside to meet the mystery voice face to face.

So at 11:00 p.m. I get out of bed and start getting dressed. I put on a long-sleeved shirt because it’s cold and I put on some skinny jeans. I also put on some boots on, and a fur sweater. So, I sneak out of my room. My parents are already asleep. Who would stay up to 11:00? I grab my bicycle and I see Clarissa at the end of the block. We get together and head to the local graveyard. I’ve never been to the graveyard, so Clarissa leads the way.

We assume our positions and I enter the graveyard and I spot the mystery voice immediately and I see that he cheated too. He brought two other men with him. He snaps his fingers. Then those two men leap in to action. One goes behind my back and pins my hands behind my back. I open my mouth to scream, but another one comes and clamps my mouth shut. Then the one also comes behind my back with a shovel and then, I take a serious blow to the head.

He has tricked me. It has been a trap. I realize the blow to the head was because the man bonked me with the shovel. I wonder if I’ll have a bruise. I’m unconscious. I begin to think what he will do with me as his victim. He is a kidnapper. I wonder if he will kill me any way or plan to take all of my family’s money.

I wake up and I realize that my hands and feet are bound. My hands are pinned behind my back. . I see that Clarissa is right beside me, bound as well. I see that we are in an abandoned warehouse. I realize that the time is 1:00 a.m. Then the mystery voice comes in through the door. That will be where our escape will be. He says,” Hi, my name is Mr. Michael Shantan. I am your mystery voice as you may have realized. I have brought you here because, you’re famous.” I reply,” But why me? There are plenty of famous people in the world. Also, how would you know if I was famous? I bet another one is more popular.” He says,” You’ve been famous since you were little. You might have just forgotten you were. If you want to get out of here, give me all of your money.”

I see that Clarissa has escaped a pocketknife that she brought. I didn’t even notice she brought the pocketknife. Mr. Shantan hadn’t noticed yet. She begins to start untying me. Mr. Shantan notices. He leaps at Clarissa, but then she takes out another small pocket knife, opens it, and throws it at Mr. Shantan’s arm and it stabs him. Then she finishes untying me. He throws the knife at us, but he misses because we’re already out the door and it hits the door making a hole. We run to our bicycles and start heading to the police station. Then I see him starting to chase us with his three men, but we’re already out the gate. We make it and told the police officers and they actually believe us. I had thought they wouldn’t. I still had rope burns. Mr. Shantan gets arrested and then my life goes back to normal and I never heard the voice. He can’t do any more damage to me. Sometimes though, I still start to remember what happened and wonder, am I really still famous? Is it true? Well, I guess it still remains a mystery. I’ll never know again.

Our Narratives

...Staring at the blank page before you Open up the dirty window Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance So close you can almost taste it Release your inhibitions Feel the rain on your skin No one else can feel it for you Only you can let it in No one else, no one else Can speak the words on your lips Drench yourself in words unspoken Live your life with arms wide open Today is where your book begins The rest is still unwritten